Members and stakeholders of the Regional Development Council (RDC) VIII got a firsthand look on how to detect fake news and respond to misinformation during a webinar on media literacy conducted on 23 September 2021, part of this year’s RDC Week Celebration.

The activity was an effort of the RDC VIII to upskill its members and stakeholders in dealing with the challenges of the new normal, as work and business are conducted more and more online.

Mr. Dulfo P. Dulfo, a journalist and media manager, provided veteran insights on how ordinary people can detect fake news. He also leveraged his years of experience as a government communicator to share techniques and strategies to improve government agencies’ response to misinformation efforts.

Members of the body were appreciative of the webinar.

RDC VIII Co-Chairperson and Private Sector Representative (PSR) for Mass Media, Luisita J. Quebec emphasized the timeliness of the event.

“This activity today is just rightly so, what with the elections coming up, the COVID pandemic heating-up, and the much-heightened preference for the online platform.” said PSR Quebec in her opening message.

The organizers also hoped that the participants will carry the lessons from the webinars into their professional and personal lives.

“I implore each and every one of you here to heed the lessons [from this webinar]. Practice due diligence in verifying information before sharing it with our friends…correct the false information you see in social media, not by starting arguments but by sharing correct and verified information. And be an advocate for media literacy. Teach others how to differentiate between real and fake news.” said Acting RDC VIII Secretary Ma. Victoria C. Cuayzon during the closing message.”

For the second year in a row, the RDC Week celebration was conducted completely online. The week-long celebration is pursuant to Proclamation No. 1164, proclaiming every fourth week of September as RDC Week.

This year’s theme, “Building Resilience Towards a Better Eastern Visayas Under the New Normal,” aims to ensure that gains made in the region will not be lost despite the threats posed by natural and man-made disasters.

Article by: Knulp D. Aseo, DRD
Photos by: Knulp Aseo, DRD/ Judith Maris T. Guzman, FAD